Can hook



Sept. 11, 1934. w. A. KEITH n 1,973,568

CAN HOOK -Fled April 16, 1932 alto: AAJ

Patented Sept. 11, 1934 :CAN HooK. V v'villiamr.. Keith, Wilmington, nel. Application April 16, 1932, SerialNo. 605,735

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a tool for lifting and carrying either a single or a plurality of containers and is especially adapted for use in handling cans or containers of considerable size of the type 5 which has an annular flange formed at its side and spaced from its upper edge, serving as a shoulder for the can cover, such as the ordinary can in which ice cream is frozen and delivered.

The present invention is believed to be an improvement over the type of tools now used for the above mentioned purpose, and the invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view taken at right angles to the showing of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the device.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure e is a plan view looking upwardly from the bottom of one end portion of the tool.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the use ofthe device for removing a single can from a container.

Figure 6 is an illustration of the device in engagement with a plurality of cans.y

My invention comprises a tool structure consisting of an integral casting or forging having a handle portion 5 which is suitably formed to be conveniently grasped in the hand of the user and easily manipulated. One end 5a of the hadie has extending longitudinally thereof a gripping jaw 6 terminating at its free end in an angularly disposed hook 7 directed inwardly and in the direction of a downwardly extending holding lug 8. The hook '7 is arranged to engage the under side of the can bead or extension whereas the lug S is relatively short, and is laterally spaced from the jaw 6 and is adapted to engage the inner side of the wall of the can as shown in Figure 5.

Fromthe description of the invention thus far, it will be seen that in using the tool, the lug 8 is inserted within the edge of the can and by proper manipulation of the handle, and in a manner thought apparent, the hook 7 will engage under the flange of the can, so that when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 5, the operator lifts upwardly on the handle for sliding the can C from the cabinet B.

The end 5b of the handle is laterally offset midway the length of the handle and at its free end merges into a laterally enlarged head 9. The head 9 is formed or provided with a single jaw l that is extended at right angles to the plane of the end a of the handle, and at the free end thereof the jaw 10 is provided on-relatively opposite sides thereof laterally directed hooks 11 The head 9 is also provided with a pair of relatively short lugs 12 extending in spaced parallelism with the jaws l0 and arranged to cooperate 60 with the hooks 11 for securing the end 5b of the handle in engagement with a plurality of cans as suggested in Figure 6.

In using the end 5b ofthe handle for lifting and carrying simultaneously two containers it will be noted thatthe cans are disposed in relatively spaced parallelism accommodating therebetween the jaw 10 with the lugs 12 arranged within the edges of the can and the hooks l1 engaging the under side of the bead or extension of the can. This engagement can be obtained by properly manipulating the tool or the cans, and the operation is thought to be obvious from the showing in Figure 6.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a tool for lifting and carrying one or more cans, especially such cans involving the structure of the well known ice cream cans, which is particularly characterized by simplicity or" construction, embodying but a single handle 8 provided at each end with suitable structure for effecting a positive engagement with a can, the can engaging means at one end being substantially a duplication of the can engaging means at the other end, differing therefrom only in that the number of lugs and hooks provided at the first named end is increased by one, and the lugs and hooks at said end being so arranged whereby two cans may be simultaneously lifted and carried instead of but a single can as is the limit of the means on the last named end of the handle.

Even though I have herein shown and described what appears to be at present the preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself specifically to the form herein shown nor otherwise limit the invention beyond the requirements of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a tool for handling simultaneously a plurality of containers having annular projections adjacent their upper ends, a handle, a rigid jaw on relatively opposite sides of the jaw and spaced 1'10 therefrom and adapted to engage the inner upper surfaces of the containers.

2. In a tool of the character described, a handle, a rigidjaW member extending from the handie at each end thereof, said jaw members being disposed in planes at substantially right angles to one another, rigid lugs projecting from said handle, there being one of such lugs disposed adjacent to and in parallelism with one of said jaw members, and two of such lugs disposed adjacent to and in parallelism with the other of said jaw members, with said other jaw member extending between the last named lugs and each s of said jaw members having a rigid hook on that side thereof confronting a proximate lug. v

3. A handle as disclosed, comprising `a pair of arms joined together at one end, 'and a double engaging member on the outer end ofjone .of said arms, the other arm forming a hand grip member.

4. A handle as disclosed comprising a pair of arms joined together at one end and a double canengaging member on the outer end of one of said arms, the other arm forming a hand grip member and said arms being so disposed, that when two cans are engaged by said can-engaging member and lifted by grasping said hand ,grip member, said cans Will balance each other.

5. A handle as disclosed comprising a pair of arms joined together at one end, a double engagging member on the extremity of one of said arms, and a single engaging member on the extremity of said other arm, said arms forming hand grip members.

WILLIAM A. KEITH. 

